Hotel or Hostel? Please help!

Jack,

I'm also in my 50's and stay in Hostels at times (although I travel "solo" these days, so usually choose 4-8 bed Dorm rooms). Except for properties in Bavaria where there's an age limit, you should have no problem with Hostels.

One potential difficulty with double (private) rooms is that often there are only a few of these so they book up quickly. I've found the facilities at "chain" Hostels such as HI Hostels are often more consistent, as they have to meet certain standards. Many of these also offer breakfast, sometimes included in the cost of the room and sometimes for a small charge.

I usually like to "mix" Hostel stays with budget Hotels, just for a bit of privacy (however this won't be an issue if you're staying in a private room).

Some Hostels have several properties in different cities, with some being a short distance outside of town.

Check the websites for Hostels in the towns you'll be visiting and give it a try!

Happy travels!

What Ken said.

Only other potential downsides: many hostels have strict curfews - show up after 11 pm (or whatever), and you're either locked out, or you're let in and you get a lecture. Not a problem for most folks, but if you like to carouse into the night, something to be aware of.

Hostels can be a great option no matter what your age.

Jack again...

Forgot to mention that Italy is the 2009 plan... Castelrotto, Venice, FLorence, Pisa, Sienna, Rome, Naples, etc..

Clean, safe and reasonably quiet ones generally available in the metropolitan areas for my age group?

The privately-run Archi Rossi hostel in Florence has private rooms w/bath, nice common room and patio, internet access, an excellent location, a good breakast included, extremely reasonable prices - an all-around winner. Though it serves the young adult crowd, it has no bar, and reviews say it's not a party hostel - it was in fact very quiet during our (wife and 18-year-old daughter) stay 2 years ago, and we were there on New Year's Eve. I could have stayed there a few months, myself.

Jack,

A few additional comments to add to my previous Post.....

You might consider a mix of Hostels and budget Hotels (use the Hotel listings in the Italy Guidebook to find lodgings that suit your preferences).

Regarding the locations you mentioned:

Castelrotto - I'm not aware of any Hostels there? A budget Hotel may be your best bet. There's at least one Hostel in Bolzano, but I don't believe they have double rooms?

Venice - I haven't stayed at Hostels there, but believe they're located at some distance from the centre.

Florence - I used Hotel Aldobrandini on my last visit. Hopefully some of the others can provide details on Hostels there.

Pisa - no info

Siena - I used Albergo Bernini on my last visit.

Rome - there are a few choices. The Beehive is located close to Termini and is VERY popular. As a rule, they tend to book up very quickly. They have another facility called "Cross Pollinate" but I don't have any info on that. You could also have a look at Alessandro Palace (also close to Termini), which has double rooms. There's a Bar on the main floor which can be noisy at nights, but I didn't find that to be a problem (I was usually in the Bar!). The rooms seemed very modern, with electronic card locks and ensuite in each room, including the Dorm rooms, Internet just off the Lobby, good security, etc. There are lots of restaurants just outside the front door.

Naples - I stayed in a Hotel when I was there in the spring. HI list the Naples - Mergellina as their property in Naples, and it's advertised as being "about a 10-minute drive from the centre of the city".

A good resource for finding Hostels is the www.hostelworld.com website.

Cheers!

I have looked around at some of the hostels and their pricing for "private" rooms and actually, a budget hotel or pension is often cheaper. A lot of people think that pension are only in small towns, but the big cities have them too. Another option is looking at B&B's or renting apts. It is possible to rent for just a couple of days at a time. Start googling these for the cities you want to visit or come on here and ask specifically and I bet you get a bunch of answers to places that will provide you with even a better experience than a hostel. Here is a website I found for Germany in case you thinking about traveling around here.

arhttp://www.bed-and-breakfast.de/index_en.aspe

Jack: In Italy, you might also look into budget tourist accommodation offered at convents and monasteries. It's cheap, very clean, no frills accommodation (often with breakfast thrown in) and you may find it much quieter than a hostel. But again, before you book a room, check to see if they have a curfew or lock-out time.

I agree with other poster that you can often find a B&B, pensione, guest house or simple 2 star budget hotel room at similar prices to a private hostel room. A hostel often has the added advantage of access to kitchen, laundry and internet facilities. The noise factor really depends on who is booked at the hostel while you are there. I've stayed at plenty of hostels with no noise problems at all - and a few that were quite noisy (remedied by packing a pair of ear plugs). Read the reviews at bugeurope.com as well as the previously mentioned hostelworld.com.

Jo,

You've raised a good point! That's another reason I mix my accommodations between Hostels and budget Hotels. Often the cost of budget Hotels is not that much different than Hostels (and I get my own room!).

I normally use Rick's "$" or "$$" listings and so far they've been great. Not luxurious but "clean, safe and affordable".

Cheers!

I agree with Jo. Hostels can be good bargains, but usually only if you take the option of a dorm bed. If you are a couple and want a level of privacy and security, booking a private double in a hostel is an option, but I too have found that the cost often is the same or more than a budget Hotel or B&B. Add to that, that on the average, hostels can lack the charm or customer service of a small hotel/B&B.

Plus, with a B&B, you get the extra "B" (meaning breakfast), so it can actually save you more money.

I agree with Jo.

During my travels, I only found one hostel with a private room that was less expensive than a budget hotel. It required a steep uphill climb (they provided handrails so you could pull yourself up). And it was very funny. Anyway, I have found the budget hotels to be a better choice. Have a super trip!!

In my early 60's and use HI Hostels once in awhile, and yes in the bunk-bed type, along with lots of Rick's recommended lowest priced accomodations. Nothing wrong with hostels in my opinion, one meets lots of delightful travellers of all ages. The noise has never bothered me. If you are going to Castelrotto (sp?) try and stay at a farm called Tirler Hof (in RS book). Nice sized room, huge breakfast and dirt cheap, can't recall just what the price was but around E25/night. Beautiful area! Bon voyage!

I will be staying in hostels most nights when I travel this May. I have found that budget hotels and a private room in a hostel are very similiar in price. However nothing can beat the price of a bed in a dorm room. I too am concerned about noise as I am an early riser, but as I am going solo for this trip, I want to meet other travellers of which will be easy to do in hostels.

I have been using www.hostelworld.com, www.hostelz.com and www.tripadvisor.com (under the specialty lodging section) and reading the travelers reviews on the hostels. You can usually tell from them if it is a party hostel or not. Also on hostelworld most people put down their age category which also helps to narrow down my choices.

Hi Jack
I wouldn't discount staying in a monastery and convent in Italy as it's part of the cultural experience.I found this good website www.monasterystays.com which provides a booking service for places all over Italy. heaps of places in Rome and Venice and reasonable - not dorm type prices but safe and very convenient. They have places in some really attractive locations eg Cinque Terra and Siciliy. I'm planning to use then this year so I'd recommend checking them out.

Jack...I have to agree with many posters. I think you'll find that there's little diff between a hostel double room...and one in a budget hotel..esp in off/shoulder season.

If you want a private room, you won't save much using a hostel. Hostels are a great deal for a person traveling solo who doesn't mind sharing a room and bathroom. Many hostels have private rooms now but when you price them, they aren't a whole lot better than a pension, b&b or budget hotel.

In terms of noise and cleanliness, there are hostels and there are hostels. Some are party central while others are well-run, clean and quiet. You can read reviews of hostels on-line and guage what they are probably like.

One hostel I would recommend is on the Rhine. Burg Stahleck is a converted castle and is very well run. It's always full so you do need reservations.

Another I really like is like a hostel but is actually college dorm rooms. Institute San Sebastian in Salzburg is another quiet, well run place that is ideally located within walking distance of everything. I've stayed there as a solo, sharing a room with bunk beds and as a family occupying two rooms with three single beds each.

Those are two I would gladly choose again. There are many I would stay at again but wouldn't give an unqualified recommendation and still others that I would stay in again, but only if nothing else was available. I haven't been to the heavy partying hostels because I weed those out on line.

The other catch is communal bathrooms. A lot of Americans can't get past that. Normally they are seperated by sex but not always. At a hostel in Germany once, I knew it was co-ed bathrooms but I'm sure my jaw dropped when I went down the hall for a morning shower and it was full of young women in towels. The showers and toilets were enclosed but I still felt like I had accidentally walked into the women's room.

Hi Jack,

I would recommend you looking into B&B's. You can often get some great deals on a B&B and have the convinience of your own room and bathroom. Plus they usually have wonderful breakfasts.

I've stayed at some "Budget" hotels in the past in Europe and was very dissapointed. The hotels are usually not in as good of shape and overcharge for what they're worth. Most B&B's are usually very clean and warm.

Read the Graffiti wall with recommendations on B&B's...that's where I've found many great places to stay. OR stick to the places RS recommends in his books.

Good luck and Happy Travels!

The only place I've ever seen age limit for hostels was Rome, but there are many other hostels taht don't have age limit.
Last year when I went to Rome I stayed in ahostel and chatted with a guy from AK who was in his 50's.
The hostels I stayed so far were "quiet", but some people , especially young Americans might be noisy inside the room. It happened to me alst year in a Florence hostel.
make sure you book a hostel that has lockers.And bring your own pad lock